From unemployment in crosstalk to top star in Chinese entertainment

"Is tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM convenient for you to come for the audition?"

"Okay, director."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Liang stared at the ceiling for a while.

In his previous life, he worked as a stunt double on film sets for over a decade, always the one on camera afraid of being exposed or having his face revealed.

Teng Zijing.

Although it was just a minor role, this was the first time he could stand in front of the camera with his face facing out.

"Buzzing~"

The phone rang and vibrated.

Yu Liang picked it up and saw that it was a call from his partner, Guo Qilin.

"Bro, what's going on? Our director just called me to ask about you."

"I'm totally confused, but I didn't hold back at all, bro. I showered you with compliments."

"Haha, thanks, Dalin."

"Actually, it's nothing. Your production team just notified me that I need to go for an audition tomorrow."

"I auditioned for the role of Teng Zijing."

"Wow, that's awesome, bro."

"No wonder the director asked me how good my kung fu was."

"By the way, bro, what time tomorrow? I'll pick you up."

Yu Liang thought about it and decided that it was a good idea. The audition venue was a bit far from where she lived, so it would be better to have Da Lin pick her up. Besides, she didn't have a car at the moment.

"Tomorrow at 2 PM, if you're free, come before 1 PM."

Yu Liang estimated the time; he should arrive around 1:30, so allowing half an hour should be enough.

---

The next afternoon, Guo Qilin arrived in his yellow McLaren.

Yu Liang opened the car door and got in. Guo Qilin looked him up and down, his eyes wide with surprise.

"No, brother, when did you learn kung fu? How come I didn't know?"

There are many things you don't know.

"Wait, bro, you're way too handsome!"

Guo Qilin leaned closer and stared at his face. "Why did you decide to lose weight? How am I supposed to live with this?"

"Come on, you lost weight before me." Yu Liang shoved him away.

Guo Qilin chuckled and started the car: "Being thinner is good; you look more handsome when you're thinner."

"Unlike Shaobing, who, after losing weight, is just a big mouth all that's left, looking like a big-mouthed monkey."

"If Sesame Cake hears you say that, he'll be chasing you all over the yard again."

Guo Qilin smiled knowingly.

It feels so good to be able to joke around with my fellow apprentices, unlike on a film set where I have to be careful about what I say and do.

Guo Qilin fastened his seatbelt and turned to look at him: "By the way, bro, was it the director-general or the casting director who called you yesterday?"

"Casting director."

"I've heard that quite a few people are eyeing Teng Zijing. Do you know Wang Yang? He's been preparing for several days, and he's written a biography of over two thousand words."

Yu Liang remained silent.

Of course he knew Wang Yang.

He played Teng Zijing in the previous life's "Joy of Life".

He gained popularity with his role as Teng Zijing and Chen Moqun in "The Rebel", and later solidified his position as the "uncle heartthrob" with his role as Cai Xiaoguang in "The World".

"There was also a stage actor who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. I forgot his name, but his delivery of lines was excellent."

Yu Liang glanced at him: "How do you know everything?"

"Isn't this to gather intelligence for you in advance, brother?" Guo Qilin chuckled.

"Well, you're my partner, so if you pass the audition, I'll look good too, right?"

Then Guo Qilin became serious for once, "Brother, Teng Zijing's role doesn't have many scenes, but I've read the script, and it's well-written. I even cried when I read the script for the scene where he dies in the Niulan Street battle."

Yu Liang remembers that scene.

In his previous life, when he watched "Joy of Life," the episode where Teng Zijing died was filled with comments saying "Don't let Teng Zijing die."

A supporting character who only appeared in a few episodes managed to stay in the audience's memory for several years.

"Dalin, besides Teng Zijing, which other roles haven't been decided yet?"

Guo Qilin thought for a moment: "Wu Zhu, Yan Bingyun, and Ye Ling'er are all still in limbo."

"Especially Wu Zhu, the director was dissatisfied with many people who saw him, saying that he didn't have that... well, 'inhuman feeling'."

Yu Liang nodded.

Once the blindfold is on, no one can see you.

It's not easy to make a standout performance if you rely solely on physical comedy and dialogue.

Just then, my phone rang.

Wang Churan.

Yu Liang answered the phone, but before she could speak, the other person spoke first: "Yu Liang, how did you film your Douyin videos? Mine don't get as many views as yours."

"Why don't you teach me how to take one?"

"Sure, but I'm not available right now; I'm out auditioning."

"Audition? What kind of audition are you doing?"

"Joy of Life"

There was a full three seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Joy of Life?!" Wang Churan's voice suddenly rose. "That big IP? Which role are you auditioning for?"

"Teng Zijing".

"Teng..." Wang Churan paused, seemingly searching his memory for the role, "The inspector?"

"You know?"

"I've read the novel!" Wang Churan's voice suddenly became excited.

She then said, "Then you'd better keep up the good work!"

"Um."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Guo Qilin mimicked in a high-pitched voice, "Then you'd better do your best! Who was that?"

"Wang Churan".

"Wang Churan?!" Guo Qilin slammed on the brakes, thankfully it was a red light.

"Which Wang Churan? The one who's the school beauty at the Shanghai Theatre Academy?"

"Do you know him?"

"I've seen her promotional video online."

"Damn it, bro!" Guo Qilin slammed his hand on the steering wheel. "They're in college right now, and you...you're an animal!"

"It's just making a Douyin video, what are you thinking?"

"Making a TikTok video?"

Guo Qilin chuckled, his smile carrying a wealth of meaning. "Okay, I believe you if you want to make a Douyin video."

---

The casting meeting room at Xinli Media Building.

There were already about ten people waiting in the corridor.

When Yu Liang and Guo Qilin pushed the door open and came in, everyone's eyes swept over them.

A man in a black jacket was leaning against the wall, looking at his handwritten notes—Wang Yang.

Yu Liang glanced at the manuscript as he passed by; it was filled with dense text, probably the two-thousand-word biographical sketch that Guo Qilin had mentioned.

Wang Yang looked up at Yu Liang, his gaze lingering on his face for two seconds before he looked down and continued reading.

Yu Liang silently walked to the corner and sat down.

Guo Qilin leaned closer: "Brother, are you nervous?"

"good."

"I went to the restroom just now and passed by the conference room door. I heard them talking inside."

Guo Qilin lowered his voice, "Director Sun Hao said that he will personally look at every single one of the actresses who came to audition for Teng Zijing today."

Yu Liang nodded.

Guo Qilin added, "Teacher Wang Juan is also inside."

Wang Juan.

The screenwriter of "Joy of Life".

Yu Liang had heard of this person in his previous life.

The script was well-revised, the details were meticulously crafted, and he could make even a supporting character feel like a protagonist.

In the book, he was just a character who left the story with a broken leg, but in the drama, he became Fan Xian's first true friend in the capital.

The battle at Niulan Street, in which Teng Zijing died protecting Fan Xian, became the first major tearjerker in the entire series, and also the turning point for Fan Xian from "taking care of himself" to "fighting against the world".

All of this was the work of screenwriter Wang Juan.

Yu Liang suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.

A dozen minutes later.

"Which one of you is Yu Liang?" a staff member asked, sticking his head out.

Yu Liang stood up and straightened his collar.

Guo Qilin shouted from behind, "Brother, keep it up!"

---

There were five people sitting in the conference room.

Right in the center is a middle-aged man wearing glasses, director Sun Hao.

To his left is the casting director, and to his right is the screenwriter Wang Juan.

There were two other people sitting behind him whom Yu Liang didn't recognize; judging from their name tags, they were probably from the production company.

"Hello, Director, hello, teachers." Yu Liang smiled and bowed.

"Yu Liang, is that right? Please have a seat."

Sun Hao pointed to the chair in front of him, looked him up and down, and nodded slightly.

"Thank you, director."

"May I ask which company Mr. Yu Liang works for? What movies or TV shows has he acted in before?" Sun Hao asked, following the procedure.

Yu Liang frankly stated, "Deyun Society, a crosstalk troupe. I had a cameo role in the TV series 'The General' before."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room instantly became awkward.

The producer paused, looking at the director with a clear meaning in his eyes: Why are even comedians joining in the fun?